Workflow connection fails to activate or enable from cloud proxy

Products

• VCF Operations

Issue/Introduction

When configuring the vCenter adapter in a VCF Operations 9.x workload domain, you attempt to enable network data collection.

Specifically, when you select the option "Activate Network & Flow Collection" in the vCenter adapter configuration, choose a collector from the dropdown menu, and click Save, the process fails to enable the feature.

The following exact error message is shown in the user interface (UI):

Adapter instance successfully saved, but failed to enable Network and Flow Collection feature

You expect the Network and Flow Collection feature to be enabled successfully after saving the adapter instance.

Environment

VCF Operations 9.x

Cause

The VCF Operations for Networks Collector has an incorrect subnet mask configuration, which prevents it from establishing and enabling the workflow connection back to the VCF Operations platform.

You can confirm this cause by reviewing the collector appliance's network configuration settings and checking if the subnet mask is correctly aligned with the deployed network.

Resolution

The failure to enable the Network and Flow Collection feature is typically due to connectivity issues that occur after the initial adapter settings are saved. If the root cause is an incorrect network configuration on the collector, the easy fix is to redeploy the collector with corrected settings since no data is being saved on the collector.

Follow these steps to ensure the network configuration is correct:

1. 1. Verify Network Prerequisites: Ensure all prerequisites for the VCF Operations for Networks Collector are satisfied, as this error often indicates a prerequisite failure (e.g., connectivity or post-saving credentials).

   2. Review Existing Collector Configuration:

      • Log in to the VCF Operations for Networks Collector appliance.

      • Review the current network settings, paying close attention to the subnet mask and gateway.

   3. Redeploy the Collector: If the collector was deployed with an incorrect subnet mask or other incorrect network entry, redeploy the VCF Operations for Networks Collector with the proper network settings.

   4. Re-attempt Activation: After successfully redeploying the collector with the corrected network settings, attempt to "Activate Network & Flow Collection" again in the vCenter adapter configuration and click Save.

 

Here are some general guidelines for prerequisites: 

Component	Prerequisite
VCF Operations for Networks	The VCF Operations for Networks appliance must be successfully deployed in your VCF environment (either during VCF deployment or subsequently via Fleet Management).
User Role	You must have an administrative role (e.g., VI Admin) with access to the VCF Operations UI and the ability to modify VCF integrations.
Account Integration	The relevant vCenter Server and NSX manager accounts for the target workload domain must be configured and integrated within the VCF Operations platform.
Flow Collector	The VCF Operations for Networks Collector(s) must be deployed and healthy to receive the flow data.

 

Additional Information

For detailed guidance on configuring the necessary network flow settings that must be in place before activation, see the TechDocs article:

VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 - IPFIX Configuration on VDS and DVPG